Well, I don’t know you well enough to know if you are a dork or not, but I agree. I think Slash is a very good and very underrated rock guitar player. He constructs very meaningful phrases and playes with a lot of energy.
Well I’ve commented on a few posts, now I’d like to give my input.
First, As we have a bunch of Flecktones fans in the room, I can continue talking about them for days. Bela is probably in my top 5 of all time. “Drive” is an incredible piece of music, but my favorite is definitely “Tales from the Acoustic Planet” - some of the most melodically brilliant music ever. (not to mention the incredible playing of Paul McCandless and Chick Corea).
Now, moving on. Some mentioned Neil Peart (sp?). I don’t think he belongs in this thread at all, IMHO. While he is an amazing mechanic and technician, I think he is overrated to say the least. Bill Bruford is a much better rock drummer but he gets his credit from those who know him.
So my vote for underrated rock drummer is Phil Collins. Of course those who know of him way back when will agree at once, but so many only see him as the pop superstar hammy singer that most probably have no clue of his genious.
The best drummer, however, that I know of right now in any genre (incidently he plays much in a jazz fusion style combining rock w/ jazz and Indian music) is Trilok Gurtu. He blows me away album after album. Check out one of the 80’s Oregon albums with him on it, not to mention 7 of his own albums (including such names as Pat Metheny, Joe Zawinul, Don Cherry, and a whole bunch of others) and, I almost forgot, his albums with John McLaughlin (Most notably the live one which the name is escaping me right now)
Kenny, I’ll second Phil Collins. A great drummer indeed. Let me add the late Jeff Porcaro (of Toto fame, and also drummer on Dire Straits’ “On Every Street” album) and Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater). Also, the new drummer for Toto is amazing too (what’s his name again? Simon Philips, I think).
Bruford is an absolute giant. However, there is no drummer that beats Neil Peart. Sure, tastes differ, but Peirt is in no way overrated. It’s almost akin to saying “that Hendrix character is an overrated guitar player”.
Sorry for the hijack 
Not only is Neil Peart over rated, it is my studied opinion that he should not be rated at all.
He can’t sing even a little.
And while we’re on Rush, Geddy Lee is a mediocre drummer.
Wait, scratch that. He stinks.
Kenny: I have Fleck’s TALES OF THE ACOUSTIC PLANET in my collection, and I think I’ve only listened to it once.
But your posts are so intelligent (you agreed with me!) that I’m going to shut off the computer now and go and listen to it again. Look for my comments tomorrow.
– Uke, stepping gingerly over Wally and Coldfire
I absolutely agree with those who said Lightnin’ Hopkins and Sonic Youth. Two of my favorites since high school. How many weird looks did I get from my Mariah Carey-loving classmates?
While we’re talking about Rush, I must say that Alex Lifeson is an under-rated guitarist.
And I, like Green Bean, would like to enter a plea to you all to go out and buy some Warren Zevon! Now THIS is an under-rated musician. He made two of the best albums of the 70’s (“Warren Zevon” and “Excitable Boy”), yet all anyone knows him for is “Werewolves of London”. Please do yourself a favor and buy one or both of those CD’s. They’re available at “Price Saver” prices. Probably like $9.99 for the CD or something.
rackensack wrote:
Most people I know think of Vaugn when they hear the words “The Sky is Crying.” I’ve been trying to educate them. Son House? I don’t think he even registers. And I didn’t bother to list Jimmy Reed because I’ve actually heard his songs on a local 50’s station.
The thing that irritates me, when I go out to bars, is that everybody who picks up a guitar wants to be Jimi Hendrix. Now, I’m not putting Hendrix down. All I’m saying is that I can stand to wait a long time before I hear Red House again. If they want to play a standard the won’t wear out, my pick is Key to the Highway.
And while I’m griping, let me just say that the problem with kids today is that they never heard the Clovers before, and that they have no inkling about the power and glory of the Clyde McPhatter Drifters. I’d better stop now before I run out in the streets and pummel a teenager.
Well, tastes do differ, but come on, comparing Neil Peart to Jimi Hendrix? The exact reason I would argue that Hendrix is not underrated is the same reason I argue Peart is - i.e. passion. Hendrix played with a passion that you can’t learn in any textbook or school and this passion is what makes you feel when you listen to him. This is pure genious. Peart, on the other hand, uses technique as his primary tool. His timing is impeccable, his chops pure precision, but he doesn’t make me feel. He plays very cool and calculated.
Let me just remind, this is one man’s opinion. The bottom line is always taste when it comes to art. My tastes favor passion over technique.
In terms of single artists, Johnnie Johnson is finally getting some recognition. He was the “Johnnie” of Chuck Berry’s Johnnie B. Goode (although he is a piano player). Johnnie had a very active role in writing the songs with Chuck, almost a Lennon/McCartney situation. Chuck has even admitted that much. It was Chuck, however who got all the credit for being one of the founding fathers of Rock & Roll. Johnnie was near homeless for a long time, but now is touring sporadically, and can be heard with Eric Clapton, The Kentucky Headhunters, Keith Richards, Buddy Guy, and Bob Weir, to name a few.
Sweet Basil
John Lennon.
OK, OK, be quiet and hear me out. While Lennon is of course beloved as part of the greatest rock band in history, he is rarely discussed in terms solely related to being a musician.
People rarely think about the Beatles in terms of the sophistication of their arranging, but for a four-piece band, even their early material was well-arranged, and Lennon’s playing was an integral part of that.
–The 12/8 triplet rhythm guitar on “All My Loving”
–The harmonized lead with Harrison on “And Your Bird Can Sing”
–The driving solo on “You Can’t Do That”
–The great acoustic work on “Norwegian Wood”
–The harmonica riff on “Please Please Me”
–The second solo in “Long Tall Sally”
–The solo in “Slow Down”
–the more soulful work on stuff like “Come Together,” “The End,” “Dig A Pony,” etc.
. . . just in terms of pure guitar playing, Lennon is usually given short shrift.
Also, Eric Schenckman, formerly of the Spin Doctors. I didn’t care much for them as a band, but that dude can play.
I thought they were underrated as a band–too quickly thrown into the “One-Hit Wonder” bin. I saw them in Louisville just as their popularity was waning, and it was one of the most enjoyable shows I’ve seen.
I would love to have been around NYC when they were co-headlining clubs with Blues Traveler every weekend.
Dr. J
Wait till you hear Lucy Pearl! Lauryn’s song “Every Ghetto, Every City” was one of my favorites for its soul, but then I heard “Remember the Time” by Lucy Pearl. Same theme, thinking about the fun you had when you were a child, but it just blows me away. The sound just flows over me like waves, incredible. And “Trippin” and “Good Love” are awesome-the songs just make you wanna groove. I admit few people can top “To Zion” or “Ex-Factor,” but Lucy Pearl ups the competition.
I would like to add Steve Rothery, guitar player for Marillion. His solos are awesome. And, Kenny, with feeling, too 
I’d give John Lennon a vote as an under-rated singer. He had a great rock voice. Maybe one of the best voices in rock and roll. But as a guitarist? Nah. He was okay, but George Harrison was better.
As for the Beatles’ arrangments, a lot of the credit for that has to go to George Martin.
Personally, I dont think DEVO gets enough respect. Most people only remember “whip-it,” and write the band off as a novelty act. I recently got “Greatest Hits” and “Greatest Misses” and they’re my new favorite band. They were very innovative, but always misunderstood, which is probably why their new anthology album is called “Pioneers Who Got Scalped.”
Are we not men? We are Devo!
I also agree alot of 60’s musicians get overshadowed by the Beatles and Eric Clapton, and that blues musicians are forgotten to easily…
BradySG
I kinda lean toward the singer/songwriter school (old hippie), but there is a lot of underrated talent out there.
Some that spring to my mind, in no particular order:
Randy Newman
Warren Zevon
John Gorka
John Prine
Tony Rice
Richard Thompson
Patty Larkin
Chris Smithers
I could go on and on, but…